Nursing Research

Research is a quest for an answer to a question.

Knowing the answer to a question requires a scientific method and not merely asking from various persons
or merely observing several situations that may out-rightly provide haphazard answers to posed questions.
Systematic process of collecting and analyzing information in order to increase our understanding of the
phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested.
Is a careful, systematic study and investigation in some fields of knowledge undertaken to discover or
establish facts or principles.
The scientific method of doing a research may be briefly stated in these steps:

Step 1. Identify the problem

A research originates from a problem, an unanswered question or an unsolved problem. An inquisitive person sparks
the conduct of knowing why things go wrong or unusual that in some ways those may affect human life.

Step 2. Limit the problem

The problem may be very broad. Try to focus, know the scope, established boundaries, set the breadth or make a
demarcation line so that you will know what are included and what are excluded. This will ultimately make your
study manageable or specific.

Step 3. Formulate Hypothesis

Hypothesis is a brilliant conjecture or a tentative solution to a problem. It is testable statement of a resolution to
a verifiable question. Some studies use the term assumption to mean the expected outcome of an investigation
or inquiry.

Step 4. Collect Data

Implausible statements shall be supported by factual, unbias, truthful, and convincing evidences gathered through
the execution of a carefully devised plan. The preponderance of needed information will make a genuine research.

Step 5. Interpret Data and Make a Conclusion

Extract meanings from tabulated, collated, sifted or organized data. Data will be meaningless if you will not deduce
meanings or generalizations from them. Statistical tools may aid you in measuring the significance of one factor to
another. The researcher may evaluate, accept, reject, decide or conclude based on the data gathered.

Pure versus Applied Research

Pure or basic research is a study oriented towards the development of a theory. It aims to provide knowledge or
understanding.
Applied research is an investigation that enriches a solution to a practical problem. It seeks to improve human
condition by providing knowledge that can be used for practical application.

Qualitative versus Quantitative Research

Qualitative Research is undertaken to answer questions about the plethora of phenomena primarily aimed at

giving attributes and understanding of nature based on the observers view point. It also inquires on context and
meaning, embarks on content analysis observation.
Quantitative Research is conducted to find answers to questions about relationships among measurable variables
with purpose of explaining, controlling, and predicting phenomena. It is knowing the outcome stated in numerical
data.
COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCHES
FEATURE
QUANTITATIVE
QUALITATIVE

Purpose

Process

Data Collection

To explain and predict

To describe and explain

To confirm and validate

To explore and interpret

To test theory

To build theory

Focused

Holistic

Known variables

Unknown variables

Established guidelines

Flexible guidelines

Static design

Emergent design

Context-free

Context-bound

Detached view

Personal view

Representative

Informative, small sample

Large sample

Observations, interviews

Standardized instruments
Data Analysis

Deductive analysis

Inductive analysis

Report of findings

Numbers

Words

Statistics, aggregated data

Narratives

Formal voice, scientific style.

Individual quotes
Personal voice
Library style.